I just adore cupcakes.... easy to bake, fun to decorate, yummy to eat. So I dug up some of Martha Stewart's favorite cupcake recipes and added them here.... just in case ya need some baking inspiration!! ;)
Flourless Chocolate CupcakesIn place of flour and leaveners, whipped eggs whites to produce cupcakes with a light-as-air texture.
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (or 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips)
6 large eggs, separated, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
Ice cream, for serving (optional)
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Melt butter and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Stir to combine, then remove bowl from heat and let cool slightly. Whisk in egg yolks.
2.With an electric mixer on medium speed, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat). Whisk one quarter of the beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten; gently fold mixture into remaining whites.
3.Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until cupcakes are just set in centers, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink). Cupcakes are best eaten the same day they are baked; keep at room temperature until ready to serve, topped with scoops of ice cream, if desired.
Makes 22 cupcakes.... YUM!!
Chocolate Graham Cracker Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow*This delicious recipe is courtesy of Jennifer Shea, owner of Trophy Cupcakes.*
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Marshmallow Frosting
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard muffin tins with cupcake liners; set aside.
Sift 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix ingredients together on low speed.
2.In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.
Place graham cracker crumbs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined.
3.Place 1 tablespoon graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping.
4.Place 2 teaspoons chocolate in each muffin cup. Transfer muffin tins to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake, rotating pans halfway through baking, until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.
5.Pipe frosting in a spiral motion on each cupcake. Transfer cupcakes to a baking sheet. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the frosting, taking care not to burn the cupcake liners. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container, up to 2 days.
Makes 2 dozen
Lemon Meringue CupcakesIngredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
Finely grated zest of 3 lemons (about 3 tablespoons), plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
Lemon Curd
Seven-Minute Frosting
Directions1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2.With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is until incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in zest and vanilla. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk and lemon juice, and beating until just combined after each.
3.Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until golden brown and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
4.To finish, spread 1 tablespoon lemon curd onto middle of each cupcake. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large open-star tip with frosting. Pipe frosting onto each cupcake, swirling tip slightly and releasing as you pull up to form a peak. Hold a small kitchen torch 3 to 4 inches from surface of frosting, and wave it back and forth until frosting is lightly browned all over. Serve immediately.
Makes 2 dozen!
As if it is not bad enough that I have bats, wolf spiders, coyotes, deer, snakes and foxes in my backyard..... here comes Mr. Bull the other day. This big guy hopped the fence from the neighboring ranch and decided to come into our backyard for breakfast.... I chased him away twice and he finally got the clue. But you KNOW the boys loved it!!
The melted butter on the corn is a microwaved Starburst... cute,huh?
Awwwwwwww...
You KNOW I am a sucker for Halloween.... These witchies are adorable!!
For the man who loves to golf.... or a retirement party???
I am sooooo not a fan of coconut but this little chickie/rooster was too cute to pass up!
These just look yummy! I was thinking that frozen cheesecake bites would be yummy too! Is it any wonder that every diet fails with me?!?!?!?!
I also am loving these cute beachy ones. I think the snow is finally affecting me!!
Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes
This is Miss Melissa.... she is so good and animated with the kids. 4 books, 3 songs, 2 crafts and 1 snack.... she ROCKS!!
He liked these twins off to the right of him.... I think he was flirting for awhile...
Mr. Observant....
Do you think he likes story time?
This was Flip Flop Jack.... he was made entirely of food which Landon thought was silly and yummy all at the same time!
And for the ladies!!
I think I am in love with these little candy wrappers. It is a digital product and very inexpensive!! I always give out little suckers to the students at the kids' school and this is such a cute and inexpensive way to do the tags on the lollipops!! Thanks Elle!!!
I couldn't resist....... 
INGREDIENTS
